User:WaldoEmersonInn

History of the Waldo Emerson Home, the oldest remaining home in Kennebunk. Located in Kennebunk's first historic district on Summer Street. The house has since been converted into a beautiful Bed and Breakfast Inn, located right next to the famous Wedding Cake House.

The original home which has now been converted into a kitchen and office space, was constructed between 1753 and 1757 in an area of Wells Maine, known now as Summer Street in Kennebunk Maine. He quickly became a successful business man and trader, running a small store "where the current one still is" [as of 1875] (current landing store in kennebunk?. Being an enterprising man that he was, he soon became involved with navigation and all aspects related to navigation. It is behind his home in Kennebunk's landing with his landing abutting the Kennebunk river, that he took to the art of ship building. Waldo Emerson continued with ship building as well as managing his store up until his death in 1774, in his death, he left behind one ship a brig unfinished. This ship and smaller versions of it would be completed by his son-in law and heir to the Waldo Emerson Estate, Theordore Lyman, husaband of Waldo Emerson's daughter Sarah.

Theodore Lyman: Theodore Lyman came to Kennebunk from York to be a clerk in Waldo Emerson's store. It is through this employment he became close to the family and their daughter Sarah whom he would ultimatley marry. It is through the marriage to Sarah Emerson, that Theodore Lyman came to inherit all his father in-laws property and business ventures. Mr. Lyman would be in the house with his wife Sara Emerson for about 9-10 years before she passed away herself. After his wife's death, Mr. Lyman, who's become quite wealthy in his business ventures by this time, decided that he would need a house that better represented his new wealth. By 1784 Theodore Lyman had built the addition which is now the main part of the Bed and Breakfast. The alternate suggestion is that the addition was built for as a wedding gift for his second wife, to whom he was married around 1785. During this time, with the completion of Lyman's addition, the house was considered by many to be the most lordly of homes in the area. One couple who went to visit are quoted as saying that its a house unlike any other they had seen.

However by 1804, the house was no longer enough to satisfy Mr. Lyman and his new bride, as the sold the home to one John Bourne, the father of George Washington Bourne who would construct the famous wedding cake house next door, as a home for him and his first wife. The Bourne family lived here for several years before selling the home to his brother in-law, Henry Kingsbury, who would partner with his neighbor and brother to establish the Bourne Kingsbury Shipyard. The Waldo Emerson, Lyman, Bourne, now Kingsbury Home, would stay in the family for until 1979, (approximate year turned into a business Bed and Breakfast-The Waldo Emerson Inn?).

Now with the original part of the Bed and Breakfast home, over 255 years old, and the home being listed in on the National Register of Historic Places, it offers a rare glimpse into an art form of home building of an era gone bye. With all the owners since 1979 trying to preserve the house in its original condition. The home is Currently Owned by John and Kathy Daamen, John has done extensive research on the property and loves it when given the opportunity to talk about the homes rich history including its supposed role as a stop in the underground rail road as the slaves were fleeing to Quebec for their freedom.

More Pictures: www.waldoemersoninn.com/rooms facebook.com/waldoemersoninn

"The history of Wells and Kennebunk from the earliest settlement to the year 1820"